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CPT code 31576: Laryngeal biopsy, flexible endoscopic approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in South Carolina

An otolaryngologist uses a flexible scope to inspect the larynx and obtain tissue from a suspicious area for diagnostic evaluation.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality666 Medicare services in 2024

In South Carolina, Medicare pays $252.16 for 31576 in the office and $100.01 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$252.16Office (non-facility)
$100.01Hospital or facility
−6.1%vs the national office rate ($268.54)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 31576 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open 31576 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in South Carolina
  2. What 31576 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 31576 covers

This service involves passing a flexible endoscope to examine the larynx and taking one or more tissue samples from an abnormal area. Otolaryngologists commonly perform it in an office or facility when a vocal fold or other laryngeal finding needs tissue diagnosis. The scope provides visualization and access for the biopsy; the purpose is sampling, not removing a lesion as treatment.

Report the service when the flexible examination includes an actual tissue biopsy, and document the sampled site, endoscopic findings, and biopsy performed. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the 0-day global period. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. A bilateral adjustment is not appropriate. Medicare does not pay for an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this service.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

How South Carolina compares for 31576

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 31576 runs from $236.36 in Arkansas to $358.97 in San Benito County, CA. South Carolina pays $252.16. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

31576 in South Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. South Carolina · this page$252.16
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$304.45+$52.29
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$308.16+$56.00
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$289.96+$37.80
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$281.21+$29.05
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$309.71+$57.55
  7. Alaska · Alaska$308.27+$56.11

Other areas in South Carolina first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

31576 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$239.97$95.89
ArkansasArkansas$236.36$94.91
ArizonaArizona$261.14$101.58
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$285.36$104.89
Chico, CACalifornia$284.61$104.13
El Centro, CACalifornia$284.65$104.17
Fresno, CACalifornia$284.61$104.13
Hanford, CACalifornia$284.61$104.13

31576 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$236.36

$321.79

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
31576 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$308.271
AL$239.971
AR$236.361
AZ$261.141
CA$284.61–$358.9729
CO$280.081
CT$286.871
DC$308.161
DE$265.591
FL$264.18–$289.963
GA$248.78–$273.652
GU$292.071
HI$292.071
IA$246.441
ID$248.091
IL$256.17–$281.214
IN$249.601
KS$245.191
KY$245.781
LA$245.36–$258.022
MA$278.28–$308.602
MD$270.83–$308.163
ME$249.39–$263.552
MI$252.40–$267.562
MN$268.181
MO$240.94–$259.043
MS$238.701
MT$268.531
NC$252.121
ND$263.381
NE$247.861
NH$275.591
NJ$290.10–$304.752
NM$253.821
NV$267.291
NY$256.04–$317.425
OH$251.351
OK$245.381
OR$265.17–$289.332
PA$251.80–$279.462
PR$270.601
RI$275.321
SC$252.161
SD$262.781
TN$246.471
TX$250.07–$279.188
UT$255.751
VA$262.62–$308.162
VI$270.601
VT$262.271
WA$277.78–$315.062
WI$254.201
WV$246.301
WY$266.291

See 31576 in every payment locality

How the 31576 rate is calculated

Each of 31576’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 31576

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.84

1.84 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense5.94

5.94 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.26

0.26 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

8.0400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$268.54

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact South Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,609

Code
31576
Physician work
1.84
Practice expense
5.94
Malpractice
0.26

GPCI2026.csv

93

Locality
South Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.924
Malpractice
0.850
Office calculation for 31576 in South Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.84× 1.0001.8400
Practice expense5.94× 0.9245.4886
Malpractice0.26× 0.8500.2210
Total RVUs7.5496
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, South Carolina$252.16

Office: (1.84 × 1 + 5.94 × 0.924 + 0.26 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $252.16

Facility: (1.84 × 1 + 1.01 × 0.924 + 0.26 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $100.01

Open 31576 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 31576

The CMS indicators that decide how 31576 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31576

Laryngeal biopsy, flexible endoscopic approach

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures3Endoscopy family rules apply.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

31576 without 51 · national office

$268.54

Laryngeal biopsy, flexible endoscopic approach

31576-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$134.27

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 31576

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 31576
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, South Carolina
Same family
31575Laryngoscopy, flexible, diagnosticFlexible diagnostic examination without biopsy.$119.60
31578Laryngoscopy, flexible scope, lesion removalFlexible laryngoscopy with lesion removal rather than diagnostic tissue sampling.$286.28
31579Laryngoscopy, with stroboscopyFlexible laryngeal examination with stroboscopic evaluation.$184.29
Used instead
31535Laryngeal biopsy, direct operative approachDirect laryngoscopy with biopsy when a direct rather than flexible approach is used.No office rate

How 31576 has changed in South Carolina

31576 · Office / nonfacility

$252.16

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $11.16 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $241.00 to $252.16 (4.6%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $241.00changed to$252.16

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.89 changed to 1.84
    • Practice expense RVU 5.84 changed to 5.94
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.26
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.913 changed to 0.924
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.817 changed to 0.850

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $252.00changed to$241.00

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 5.98 changed to 5.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.28

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $247.88changed to$252.00

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $254.40changed to$247.88

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 5.97 changed to 5.98
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.27
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.756 changed to 0.817

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $255.79changed to$254.40

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 5.90 changed to 5.97
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.26
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.903 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.756

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $256.02changed to$255.79

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 5.84 changed to 5.90

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $253.44changed to$256.02

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 5.48 changed to 5.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.25
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.903
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.624 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $250.45changed to$253.44

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 5.39 changed to 5.48
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.912 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.553 changed to 0.624

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $248.54changed to$250.45

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 5.34 changed to 5.39

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $249.84changed to$248.54

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 5.38 changed to 5.34
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.634 changed to 0.553

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $214.26changed to$249.84

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 1.97 changed to 1.89
    • Practice expense RVU 4.19 changed to 5.38
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.26
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.715 changed to 0.634

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $213.66changed to$214.26

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 4.14 changed to 4.19
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.27

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $212.59changed to$213.66

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $213.05changed to$212.59

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 4.21 changed to 4.14
    • Malpractice RVU 0.23 changed to 0.28
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.911 changed to 0.912
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.618 changed to 0.715

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $214.46changed to$213.05

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 4.63 changed to 4.21
    • Malpractice RVU 0.24 changed to 0.23
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.909 changed to 0.911
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.520 changed to 0.618

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $214.46

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$252.16$100.01RVU26D
2026-07-01$252.16$100.01RVU26C
2026-04-01$252.16$100.01RVU26B
2026-01-01$252.16$100.01RVU26A
2025-10-01$241.00$111.06RVU25D
2025-07-01$241.00$111.06RVU25C
2025-04-01$241.00$111.06RVU25B
2025-01-01$241.00$111.06RVU25A
2024-10-01$252.00$113.41RVU24D
2024-07-01$252.00$113.41RVU24C
2024-04-01$252.00$113.41RVU24B
2024-03-09$252.00$113.41RVU24AR
2024-01-01$247.88$111.56RVU24A
2023-10-01$254.40$113.48RVU23D
2023-07-01$254.40$113.48RVU23C
2023-04-01$254.40$113.48RVU23B
2023-01-01$254.40$113.48RVU23A
2022-10-01$255.79$112.98RVU22D
2022-07-01$255.79$112.98RVU22C
2022-04-01$255.79$112.98RVU22B
2022-01-01$255.79$112.98RVU22A
2021-10-01$256.02$112.34RVU21D
2021-07-01$256.02$112.34RVU21C
2021-04-01$256.02$112.34RVU21B
2021-01-01$256.02$112.34RVU21A
2020-10-01$253.44$114.33RVU20D
2020-07-01$253.44$114.33RVU20C
2020-04-01$253.44$114.33RVU20B
2020-01-01$253.44$114.33RVU20A
2019-10-01$250.45$114.05RVU19D
2019-07-01$250.45$114.05RVU19C
2019-04-01$250.45$114.05RVU19B
2019-01-01$250.45$114.05RVU19A
2018-10-01$248.54$113.60RVU18D
2018-07-01$248.54$113.60RVU18C
2018-04-01$248.54$113.60RVU18B
2018-01-01$248.54$113.60RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$249.84$115.64RVU17D
2017-07-01$249.84$115.64RVU17C
2017-04-01$249.84$115.64RVU17B
2017-01-01$249.84$115.64RVU17A
2016-10-01$214.26$121.20RVU16D
2016-07-01$214.26$121.20RVU16C
2016-04-01$214.26$121.20RVU16B
2016-01-01$214.26$121.20RVU16A
2015-10-01$213.66$121.57RVU15D
2015-07-01$213.66$121.57RVU15C
2015-04-01$212.59$120.96RVU15B
2015-01-01$212.59$120.96RVU15A
2014-10-01$213.05$120.37RVU14D
2014-07-01$213.05$120.37RVU14C
2014-04-01$213.05$120.37RVU14B
2014-01-01$213.05$120.37RVU14A
2013-10-01$214.46$116.73RVU13D
2013-07-01$214.46$116.73RVU13C
2013-04-01$214.46$116.73RVU13B
2013-01-01$214.46$116.73RVU13AR

Price 31576 for an earlier date of service

Where the South Carolina rate applies

South Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 475 cities and communities in South Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abbeville
  • Abney Crossroads
  • Adams Run
  • Aiken
  • Alcolu
  • Allendale
  • Anderson
  • Andrews

Browse all communities in South Carolina

31576 billing questions

How does this differ from diagnostic flexible laryngoscopy?

This code includes tissue sampling during the flexible examination. Use diagnostic flexible laryngoscopy when the examination is performed without a biopsy.

When would a laryngoscopy code for lesion removal be more appropriate?

Use the removal service when the lesion is excised or otherwise removed as treatment. This code represents biopsy sampling for diagnosis, not therapeutic lesion removal.

What documentation supports reporting this service?

Document the laryngeal site examined, the abnormal finding, and that tissue was obtained with the flexible scope. The record should distinguish biopsy sampling from inspection alone or lesion removal.

Can modifier 50 be used for biopsies on both sides?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this service, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.

How does payment work when related endoscopies are performed together?

CMS endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. The code also has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 31576PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,609 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for South CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 93 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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